Former Philadelphia TV sports broadcaster charged with theft

A veteran Philadelphia sports broadcaster was charged Tuesday with defrauding buyers of sports packages where he claimed the proceeds would go to charity. Don Tollefson surrendered to police in Warminster, Pa., in suburban Bucks County, to face charges of theft by unlawful taking and theft by deception, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Bucks County prosecutors say he defrauded more than 100 people of a total of about $100,000. A magistrate set bail at $250,000, and Tollefson was remanded when he was unable to post it. In the past, Tollefson worked for WPVI-TV, the ABC affiliate in Philadelphia, and WXTF or Fox 29. Tollefson allegedly took money for trips to sporting events like the Super Bowl, telling buyers the proceeds were to benefit the Special Olympics and other charities. But investigators say he never filed the required paperwork to accept charitable contributions and buyers began to complain that Tollefson failed to come through either with the trips they had paid for or refunds. He spent time last fall at an in-patient substance abuse treatment facility.